Development of natural resources: progress report

11 ft ^ ft I)

|; ft t W i

o BE TAK.EN OUT

UNITED NATIONS

FXONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Distr.

GMERA.L

e/bCA/cM.8/20

25 March 1982 Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COY^ISSIOX FOIi AFRICA Eighth Meeting of the Conference

of Ministers

Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahir\Ya,

27-30 April 1982

DEVELOPJ'iENT OP NATURAL RESOURCES: PROGRESS REPORT

M82-725

E/ECA/CM.8/20

CONTENTS Chapter

I INTRODUCTION -

II CARTOGRAPHY AHD REMOTE SENSING

III MINERALS, LAND AND SOIL RESOURCES

IV WATER AND IRRIGATION

V LIVESTOCK, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

VI ENERGY RESOURCES -

VII HUT-IAN RESOURCES -

Paragraph Page

1 — 11 -

22 -

46 -

70 -

83-

113 -

10

,21

45

69 82

112

118

1

4 6 16

22

28

37

ECA/CM. 8/20.

I. INTRODUCTION

1B The by now families basic argument about economic growth is that it means

increases in the physical output of goods ajid services (to meet the needs of.

the mass of the African population). These increases must inevitably come from the application of relevant factor inputs to the conversion of raw materials, extracted from primarily African natural resources, into semi—finished and finished products. The relevance of factor inputs is thus broadly determined by the natural resource base and more narrowly by product choice., There are three levels of natural resources from which complementary raw materials are drawn: national and multinational, regional and world. It is the range of effective complementarities that determines the scope of production possibili ties and therefore the range of product choices and hence the speed and scope of diversification of production,,

2a At the national level therefore the range of complementarity rests on the . . scope and reliability of information on exploitable natural resources. This

information is also essential for identifying effective complementarities at the multinational, regional and.interregional levels except that two additional

factors are required? (a) marketing capabilities and (b) transport and

communications infrastructure,,

3« Thus the range of product choices within Africa as a whole depends firstly on the scope and intensity of work at the national level on the compilation, evaluation and dissemination of information on national natural resources/raw materials. It is this that accounts for ths increasing interest in.national and regional natural resource maps and atlases in other parts of the world. It depends, secondly, on the extent to which the regional transport network is designed to

facilitate the least-cost movement of raw materials in bulk in one direction and the least-cost movement of serai—finished and'finished products, especially

engineering goods, in the other direction. A much greatar understanding is needed of ho1.! far transport costs in c region as large as Africa can aid or undermine the effective participation of individual countries in rapid industrial development arid structural transformation of the region as a whole*,}/

4» At the "national level"therefore the highest priority is the compilation of

information on known natural resources 2/ including the training of nationals in l/ Increasing prices in the 1980s for the delivery of heavy minerals may

facour the location of new mining operations in areas permitting- the lowest deliver ed cost of product to the customer,. At the end of 1979» 50-75 Pe^ cent of- the delivered United States price.for Australian ilmenita and 34-45 Per cent of the delivered United States price for Australian zereonwas related to freight. ■

2/ "Kroun" here covers resources identified as existing right down to resources (e<.g<, minerals) whose reserves have been fully evaluated in quantity

and quality*

B/SCA/CM.8/20

Page 2

natural resources/raw materials inventories and management,: If this is to be

actively pursued a ministry should "be charged with the responsibility for co«

ordinating and pushing on with this worka Thus in so far as external assistance, including that of ECA, is concerned anything which can be done to provide

Governments with capabilities in this field is of first importance*

5» A very important but little recognised factor is that most Governments and indigenous business communities in Africa are unfamiliar with simple information on complementarity of raw materials and other inputs into the production of specific products, i»ec with the "physiology of production"*) Unless this weak

ness is rapidly repaired the matching of demand for and supply of natural resources/

raw materials will be severely limited. Actually this is a simple task: to compile and make widely available such information to planners, policy-makers, parastatals and other appropriate indigenous agents of production* At the present time policy—makers, planners and agents of production are confused by

limiting attention to only one well-4cnown natural resource/raw material at a time

and are frequently'inhibited, by being told that nothing can be done with "it".

There is a minimum density of' information on feasibilities (broadly interpreted)

required to activate entrepreneurs. It is not merely that the one~at—a-time

approach leads nowhere, alternative end—uses of any one resource/material are

frequently also unlcnown0 Unfortunately, African universities do not offer courses either in manufacturing technology — an amazing deficiency in the face of 20 years of repeated declarations of the intention to build up a manufactur ing sector —or in the science and technology of materials so that policy—makers and planners could have ready at hand specialists to advise them on complement arities , substitution, recycling; etc.

"• As regards marketing mechanisms it is clearly a matter of urgency to decide on and establish mechanisms to facilitate intra—African trade in industrial raw materials.- In conventional terms'these exchanges have great advantages and disadvantages. The financial aspect of marketing need not be as formidable as it seems because of the potentially substantial role of after

(which is far more widely used than is apparent).,

7« . it will have become clear that the building of inventories at the national level is also a condition of the effective participation of individual countries in intra—African production and trade, where this goes beyond the existing

structure of production,3/

£jf It does not s.eem to be fully obvious that traditional export products

were never intended by Governments for intra—African trade and that non-export crops were not so intended either. In almost every case new or expanded

production is involved.

e/bCA/cH.8/20

Page 3

8, Furthermore, the inventory also provides the basis of regional programmes for natural resources exploration, evaluation and management,,

9» As is by now well recognized remote sensing is a supplement, not a substi tute, for conventional ground level techniques of exploration and evaluation of resources^ However, conventional methods are undergoing such rapid improvements that the time may be here for a series of seminars/workshops on modern methods

of exploration and evaluation of ^roundwater resources, hydrocarbons, forest

resources, marine biological resources, etc. One of the outstanding trends is

the development of portable (back-packed, hand-held, or motorized) equipment.

It is not unlikely that the day is not far off when back-packed or hand-held equipment will be carried and read by school drop-outs and the readings entered in simple or even crude, large-scale, local maps. This may include scintillometers and other equipment for first stage testing of geographical and geological

indications and sairpling of vegetable cover, streams, atmosphere, etc. The essence is to simplify equipment and readings down to the level of a relatively

abundant factor - labour - rather than attesting to raise the level of education

of large numbers of workers to the level of sophistication of modern equipment.

High school and university students during their year of national service? for example, could be given intensive short courses and deployed in selected areas for intensive ground coverage. Very large areas of ground can be quickly covered and promising oil and mineral bearing areas indicated for further, more detailed and more sophisticated work. To facilitate this the geological and cartographic services would have to be very differently organized than at present in African

countries (where they tend to cluster in one or two towns) and extensive use would

be made of mobile laboratories and of hydrofoils. The essence of the plea ma.de here is for Africans to break away from fixed conventional concepts of natural resources exploration and evaluation and to make use of an imaginative mix of techniques from local information to advanced technologies. Africa will never got far by waiting for UHDP to finance bits and pieces of surveys here and there.

Perhaps one ought to find out how China is doing it. In any case African insti tution and associations of cartography, geology and minerals should be invited to organize a seminar on these possibilities,

10» Nigeria is now making use of laser photography for the inventory of its

forest resources. Ground sampling could easily be carried out by trained forest rangers. Even university and high school students could - with some

training - be used in vacation tirae for a concentrated ground sanipling programme0 The point at issue is that some fresh thinking and experimentation is needed on the subject of rapid methods of inventory and evaluation of the natural resource base which optimises the use of expensive human and technical resources.

Page 4

II. CARTOGRAPHY AND R3M0T

11* Cartography, :>hich ornbracos "both surveying and mapping, is a sine qua non for other activities relating to the judicious planning, exploration, exploita tion and rational utilisation of the natural resources for the benefit of the whole community* It is therefore a gateway to meaningful development of natural

resources.

12« in spite of the certainty that Africa is endowed with enormous natural resources, very little is known of their exact location, type, size and extent*

In such a situation, it is not easy to carry out further exploratory studies which will assure effective and efficient planning and development of those natural resources of reasonable quality and quantity and assess their economic value before going into their exploitation on a massive scale*

13* It should be borne in mind, therefore, that the rapid development of the natural resources of any nation inevitably depends on the type of maps and cartographic services available._ Maps, are needed for planning highways, air fields and water development and are basic to the recording of geological, soils, energy, population and other data* 'The primary purpose of making maps for

natural resources survey and devleopment is therefore to enable national Govern ments to gain a fuller and more specific knowledge of their own natural resources with a view to developing and using them in promoting1 economic development.

14. Remote sensing, one of the of£-ehoots of space technology, is a relatively new scientific "tool" which, when properly used, may serve as a complement to

existing, tools for investigation, exploitation and utilization of natural resources. This new technology, which is a science as well as an art for

obtaining information about, an object,, area,, or phenomenon through the analysis of data acquired by a device that is not in contact with the object, area or phenomenon, under investigation, utilizes electromagnetic energy sensors that are operated from air-borne and space—borne, platforms to assist in inventorying, mapping and monitoring earth resources. The quest for rapid development of Africa's natural resources, believed to be bountiful, must look for modern

techniques or technologies that will respond to the need for quick transformation of those natural resourceso

!?• In its present stage of development, this technological tool has proved very efficient and effective in its application in the spheres of navigation, cartography, communications, agriculture, geology, geography, forestry and the monitoring of. changes in the environment.

Page 5

16# Th.e role of certography and remote sensing in the economic development

of the natural resources of member States is somehow found difficult to appreciate by many, not only because these complementary disciplines are not themselves "natural resources" that can be exploited and developed like minerals, energy, water etc, but also that they are seen as playing only second fiddle in the developmental processes, and hence ususally rated very low among the areas that ought to be given priority in the allocation of funds in the national budgets. This should not continue to be so if a solid founda tion is to be laid for the judicious and meaningful development of Africa's natural resources.

17« Following the attainment of political independence in some countries in

Africa in the early 1960s, the succeeding years i;itnessed a vaccum in basic services created by the mass exodus of the "colonial masters". In some' cases equipment and valuable data were also carried away with the result that planning and development of the resources were adversely affected. Retrieval of such equipment and data was difficult, and when they were released, most times it was too late for the actions for whioh they were intended. In the field of cartography the situation is still gloomy. At the end.of 1981, less than 40 per cent of the cartographic establishments in Africa can meet the basic

cartographic needs of member States, The remaining 60 per cent are either ill-

equipped (in terms of skilled indigenous manpower and equipment, infrastructure etc.) or are wholly dependent upon external sources even for basic services.

Most times only part of those needs are met through bilateral technical assist ance; counterpart staff are often not available and skills cannot be transferred,

18. It was in order to ameliorate this situation and be able to spread the

knowledge of modern and more efficient techniques of exploration and evaluation of natural resources that the Economic Commission for Africa sponsored the proposal to establish multinational cartographic and remote sensing centres in the region. Today, two regional cartographic centres and five training and user assistance centres in remote sensing have been established. Regrettably, the3e centres which were established at the request of member States suffer : from inadequate numbers, effective members and financial support (through

payment of their contributions to the annual budgets of the centres). They are therefore unable to fulfil the purpose for which they were established.

The result is that the interests of donor countries wane and their assistance is either totally withdrawn or considerably reduced. The viability of the centres and, hence their existence, is greatly threatened.

lfU One of the primary objectives for convening the United Nations Regional

Cartographic Conferences for Africa, four of which had been held in 1963, 1966,

Page 6

1972, and 1979, with a fifth coming up in November 1982, and the philosophy

behind the considerable"emphasis laid upon institution building' in the chapter of the Lagos Plan of Action, in the field of cartography and remote sensing were to assist member States in developing their national cartographic and remote sensing services so as to reduce the degree of dependence upon external

sources for basic services (thereby paving the way for self—reliance and self-

sustenance), and to speed the knowledge of modern and more efficient techniques of exploration and evaluation of their natural resources. To achieve these, member States must- demonstrate, much more than at the moment their seriousness of purpose through their effective participation in, and prompt payment of their contributions to the budgets of the centres. Thus, the centres will be fully operational and meet the aspirations for adequate indigenous manpower, acquisi tion of modern and more efficient techniques and various types of accurate and up-to-date maps vitally needed for the development of natural resources.

20- The United Nations has in the past attempted to document the global amount of work that has been done in surveying and mapping but not much was done for the African continent to bring all studies together in such a comprehensive manner • as has been undertaken by ECA. in its cartographic inventory for Africa project.

The inventory has been an exercise which has revealed that the countries them selves often do not know what" they actually have in terras of survey records for natural resources or even scientific studies,,

21. Uith the experience gained by ECA in the preparation of the inventory, it ■ is now possible to call on.member States individually to carry out an inventory which will bring together records of activities of their different national

surveying and mapping organisations. Out of national inventories it will then be simple to-up—date the continental inventory that was started in 197^«

It is unfortunate to mention that work on the Cartographic Inventory for Africa project has been suspended for lack of funds. Ten out of 12 atlases should

be completed by June this year. Therefore assistance or financial support by member States would be appreciated to enable the completion including the printing and dissemination of the remaining two atlases*

III. MINERAL, -LAUD AND SOIL RESOURCES

An Introduction-

22. The economic development of AFrica, in the foreseeable future will for many countries be directly linked with improvement and structural development in the agricultural sector, but mineral resources are also of great importance,, For the

s/HJA/CM.8/20

Page 7

agricultural sector itself the three most crucial factors influencing productivity and development can "be summarized as follows:

(a.) Resource (inclusive of technology) availability and use;

(b) Agricultural development policy and farm organisation;

(c) Investment levels.

23" This section briefly examines the resource situation, concentrating1 on mineral land and, soil, resources for agricultural development in Africa.

Planning for increased productivity, and more specifically for increasing food supply.in Africa, would have to take into consideration the essential factor inputs and factor productivity as these relate to optimal use situations, without which the future social and political stability as well as the economic independence of Africa would clearly be frustrated*

24* Concerning the mineral resources, the Government of the majority of develop ing countries in Africa have made sustained efforts, often with some United Nations bodies like UEDP, to set up physical and institutional infrastructures to meet their countries' interests. These efforts are laudable but, with few exceptions, mineral development has had relatively less impact on socio- economic development than it should because of:

(a) Inadequate infrastructures;

(b) Mismanagement;

(c) Policies pursued by the producing countries or by the foreign mining

companies;

(d) External orientation of economies of countries in terms of financing;

(e) Fluctuation of mineral raw material prices;

(f_) World demandf etc,

25». Inspite of their uillingness to exercise full sovereignty over their mineral resources,, member States still rely on external actions from transnational

corporations or bilateral or multilateral organizations to develop their mineral*

Accordingly, at the first Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources held in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, in

February 1981, EGA member States adopted some recommendations to improve the situation regarding the development of mineral resources in Africa, which can be considered as lines of action for the African Governments,

B, Mineral resources

26, The African region has grer.t potential in terms of mineral resources (ta.ble l)

e/bGA/CM.8/20

Page 8

and many African countries are among the main producers of minerals in the world (table 2), They produce raw materials needed for the steel industry

(cobalt, chromium, iron ore and manganese), various non-ferrous base mineral raw materials (copper, lead and zinc and tin) ran materials for light metals (bauxite, magnesite and^spodumene), precious mineral raw materials (gold and silver) nuclear - and electronic mineral raw materials (beryliura, selenium, etc.) fossil fuels and

*nineral rawjMrfcerial needed for chemical and fertilizer industries and for il and ceramics industries.

27. The development of these resources has not effectively contributed to the

socio-economic development of the countries because of a number of domestic and

external factors including poor and inadequate infrastructures, mismanagement

policies pursued by the producing countries and/or foreign mining corporations,

external orientation of economies of countries in terms of financing, fluctuation

of mineral raw material prices, world demand, etc.

28« However, the last 20 years have witnessed a big change in the field of

mineral development in Africa. Before independence, African countries through the colonical administration allowed the staking of large concessions by

individuals and companies at nominal fees. For example the large mines in the central African copperbelt covering Zaire and Zambia were developed lay such companies. This was followed by the establishment of huge transnational mining:

companies as a result of the: decline in the world demand for mineral resources after the War and depletion of many rich ore deposits followed by the increase

of financial requirements for exploration of large but low-grade mineral deposits.

29, With independence, the newly emerging nations, desirous of exercising sovereign ty over their resources, began to take control over some key decisions affecting mining operations in their countries as well as those connected with mineral market ing. They imposed higher taxes and royalties in order to maximize the revenue derived from their non-renewable resources, took out some share participation in the mining companies and in some cases nationalised the mining companies. This was followed by a drop in mineral exploration activities on African countries undertaken by the transnational companies, which, for considerations of politi cal and financial stability, transferred those activities to some areas of the world like Canada and Australia, considered as "good and stable areas" for

mining activities.

30* To try to overcome these difficulties, African countries, particularly

those with mineral resources endowments, established governmental departments

(geological surveys, mining departments) for the management of their resources

and State corporations oriented more specifically towards trade in mineral

Table

1 2

-i

4 5 6

"7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15

16

17

18

19

20 21 22 23 24

25

26 27 28

29

30 31 32 33

-■...

Substance

Crude oil Natural gas

& condensate Copper

Diamonds

Phosphate rock Iron ore

Uranium Bauxit s Hold Cobalt Coal Manganese Nickel Tin Asbestos Lead Zinc Chromite Salt Silver Fluorspar Tungsten Soda .ash Baryta ColonVbite—

taji-taj.it e Graphite Vanadium Kj-olin Pyrit. es Mercury Antimony Platinum IQyanit e

Other substances Jgpt.aJ.

Develop ii Value QU3

million

30 701*4 1 542.8 1 276.8 930.1

876.3

522.8 352.4 .. .

310.7

214.1 190.2

145-5

117*6 112,2 105,6

■ 103,4

97.5

55*1

54.5

54a

51.9

12.6 10.7 9-9 7.2

6*0 5-5 4-8

4.7 4.4

4.2

2.7

-

-

13*6

ig Africa Percentage

31.0

4*1

3.4 2.5

2.3 1.38 , 0.93

;"0.82 Oo 56 0.50 a. 38 0.31 0.30 0,28 0.27 0o25

0.15

0.14

0.14 0,13 0.033 0.027 0.026 0,019

0.016 0.014 0.013 0.012 . 0,011 0.011 0.007

_

-

0.036 _100.00

Value ci1 uorld mine production in 1973: &U£

Developing Africa Total Africa

" Total Africa

Value OUS million

30 701.4

1 542.8 1 506.8 1 466.1 937.4

779.8 583.4

310,7

4 585-1

190.2 1 206.5

■ 318.6

188,7 136,7

232.4

97-5 75*4

181.5 63.6

68.7 37.9

10.7 9.9 7.4 6*0 5.6 139.8 7*3 . 18.0

4.2

19-8

532.0 10.3

37 = 1

46 OO3.5

Percentage

66.73 3.35

3.28

3.19

2.04 1.70 1,27 0.68

9-97

0,41 2,62

'■ 0.69

0,41 0.30 0.51 0.21 0-16 0.390 0,140 0.150 0.082 0.023 0.021 0.016

0.013 0,012 0.300 0,016 0,040 0.010 0.043 1.156 0.022 0.081 100.00

■ ^7*8 9lY«9™illion" "™"

7*9 Pe^ cent

Rank

1

4 5

7

8

9 12 '

2 14 6 11

' 15

17

13

19

20 "

16

18 ■ -

10

Annales des ninas, novembr I98O,

E/ECA/CM.8/20

Page 10

Table 2. Africa's share of world totals (percentage!

Substanc e

Oil and condensate Natural gas

Coal a/

Uranium b/

Iron (steel)

Copper Tin Lead Zinc Bauxite Manganes e Chrome

Hiclcel c/

Cobalt V Tungsten Titanium Lithium Colombium

Tantalum Phosphates Diamonds

Res erves Res«

9-4 8 6

23«5

11,9 14*0 11.2 7-0 11.0 43.0 53.3 97.0 10.2 45.2 0.6 32 10

9.5)

67

70 NA

Africa production Prod*

9^9

1,6

3.7) 28,7

7*2 17*6

5*5

4.9 4.0 15.6 ; 32.1

41*5 8.7 67-5 1.4

3 10.9

3.5 26.3 72.3

consumption Conse

2,0 0.5 2,9 2-2 o,9 1-6

1.7

1,8 0.9 Ka

4a 0.8 HA NA NA HA NA

2.6 NA

Develop

Res a P

9-9

8

0;9

10,1 7.3 13.2 10,6 3.0 3.0 43,0 11,6 26.0

7,5

^45.2

0,6

25

10

9.5,

^7

■ 69

NA

).ng Africa

TOdr^J

10.2 1,6 0.2 17.0 4*1

14.9

4,3

^9 2.9

15-6

11,5 8,5

5^2

67,5

1.4

—

io,.9 '

3,5

24,2 54-3

1,^

0.5 0,,2

-.

J o 0,3 0,6 0.?

0.7

0r6 HA N1

....

—

—

-

1,3 HA

South

5^2

13.-4

4.6 0.8 0,6 4,0 8,0

•■■

41,7

71:0

2,Y

NA

*-

7

HA I'A

1

-«—

Africa TProd.__Cc

—

—

3.5) . 11O7

3,1 2C7 la2

1,1

'-

20,4 33.1

3.5

3 i;a

2,1 18

0,4

*—

2.7 0,7

0*6 7-eO 0.8 1.1 0^3 HA ,r:TA 0*8 KA HA NA HA HA

1.3 NA

a/ Lignite and peat are not included in the figures for production and consumption, b/ The figures are world totals, except that the centrally planed economy

countries have been excluded*

0/ Total identified resources.

11

resources. But while it is one thing to assert that an African country with mineral resources should stand on its own feet and be self-reliant organizing its own development programmes undertaken by its ovm experts, it is another thing to translate this into practice* For the national surveys and State corporations suffer from lack of qualified personnel and even in countries where local expertise seems to be available the countries still find it necessary to bring

in people with special skills for specific tasks,. The development of mineral resources also requires heavy capital investment and most of the time the African countries with known mineral resources either have to invite private capital to come in and develop the resources or establish joint ventures with multinational companies0 Moreover during the last decadeT the countries have

found themselves in a very difficult position with regard to securing resources

for mineral projects as international finance sources were generally not

interested in them for the reasons quoted above and even some multinational

companies were not able to finance mining projects,

31. The objective to be achieved in order to develop mineral resources, the type of development^ its rate and the means to be used for this development constitute a mineral development policy which is necessary before mineral

resources management can be put into effect, Unfortunately some African,

countries do not have a mineral development policy and most of the time, those which have mineral policies inherited them from a legislation often common to

a group of countries developed under colonialism., The mineral policies Jja ,;

African countries are only in exceptional cases reflected in the national develop ment programme and with the exception of a few countries like Algeria which had

set up an intergovernmental committee or. minerals, in many African countries,

planners and uecision-makers often operate in isolation and are not aware of

thair countries' mineral potential and its.possible contribution to the

development of the economyo A mineral development policy is necessary for government control over the exploitation and marketing of its mineral resources and African countries sholid have or develop a mineral resources development policy consistent with their national concerns and objectives,

32. The efforts made by African Governments to develop minerals are laudable,

but the achievements are not yet enough* In that connexion, the first Regional

Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa,

held in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, during February 1981, adopted some recommendations which can be considered as lines of action for Governments

of member States, to improve the situation regarding the mineral resources development* Those recommendations cover a number of areas, including:

(a) Building of technical knowledge of the mineral resources base (State

geological and mining- services should be considered as part of the basic infra-

e/sCA/cU.3/20

12

structure for economic growth and should therefore be given high priority and- ad.eg.uata resources to strengthen technical capabilities; member States should review and update national legislations in order to provide a modern framework for the exploration, evaluation and extraction, processing' and marketing of

minerals);

(b) Development of national capabilities for mineral extraction and

processing and for marketing of mineral products (establishment and/or strengthen ing of State mining' corporations, processing and marketing enterprises);

(c) Development of intra-African market for minerals and mineral products (national machinery and capabilities for negotiations of trade agreements on

minerals and mineral products of interests should be strengthened);

(d) Development of manpower;

(e) Development of national mineral regulations and mining and processing equipment industries (indigenous companies should be established for intra- African production and marketing of equipment, implements, tools and other

supplies for medium and small—scale mining);

(f) Research and development (national corporations should be established for negotiating the transfer and use of imported technology);

(g) Creation of financing, investment and insurance, institutions (member States should contribute to the establishment of their institutions);

(h) Protection of the environment (countries should include appropriate

environment protection provisions in national mining legislation).

C» Land resources

33, Land resource ownership and use constitute one of the most important, if not the most limiting, factor for agricultural productivity in Africa, especially under conditions of stagnant mediaeval agricultural technology used in most

African countries. One of the most limiting factors in planning land use in

Africa i3 the extremely meagre data available either at national or subregional

level on existing and potential use of land resources. This dearth of inform

ation has to be corrected urgently, if the land resource potential of Africa is

to be fully exploited.

e/eCa/CM.8/20

Pag-e 13

34* In table 3 below estimates are given for the land use pattern observed for the different ecological areas of Africa..' The total land area of AFrica can be roughly divided into three major land uses; arable land, pasture and forestry and others occupying 230, 7H and. 636 million hectares respectively with arable land consti tuting only 15 per cent of the total land area.

Table 3* Land use in Africa (1975)

Crop area as Ecological Arable Crop Major food Other crop percentage

subregion land. area crop area.a/ area^/ . of arable

^{Pasture Forest}etc.

— millions hectares - North Africa

Sahel

VI astern AFrica Central AFrica Eastern and

39-2 43.4

69.4

19.2

Southern Africa^. 1 Total

Percentage of arable

230.3

100

25.6 13.6 39.0 7.3

'.'. 33.1

118.6 51.5

17 o7 13-0

28.9

"4.9

25.I

89,6-

38.9

7.9 0.6 10.1 2.4

8.0 '■ 29«0

12.6

65.3

31,3 56.2 38.0 56.0

_

51*5

85.O

137.1

55.1 73.1

' 361.0

711.3

100.2

56.7 80.1

238.6

I6O.7 636.3

a/ Cereals, rootcrops, pulses and groundnuts.

b/ Industrial crops and other foodcropsu

Source: FAO, Regional Food Plan for Africa, (ARC/78/5), (July 1978),

35- The global land use in 1975 indicates that some 52 per cent of the arable land was under crops„ In all the subregions,. except for North Africa, the

arable land resources considerably exceed the- area under crops. The subregional cropping pattern varies from 31 per cent of arable land in the Sahel to a high

of 65 per cent in Northern Africa which enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate.

Variations within subregions are also significant.

36* Recently FAO-UNESCO completed a world soil resources map and FAO is now making a detailed analysis of the information (FAO agro-ecological" zone study)

to assess the production potential of t:orl& land resources. This exercise, Which"

is at an advanced stage, .will".gjjLve. some detailed' information on Africa. For iiJBtance the potential arable land in Africa is given at 636 million hectares,

e/eCA/ch.8/20

Page 14

and the potential arable land reserve is 433 million hectares (or 68 per cent

of the total potential)o This regional picture, however, hides the country-to—

country variations. The arable land-to-man ratio is tight in a few countries .' such as Burundi, Egypt, southern Uganda, the Kikuyu country of Kenya and Rwanda.

37- Thus, for Africa, with a relatively static mediaeval technology, a growing ■ population and large unutilized arable land, increases in agricultural and food output have come about largely as a result of extension of arable land. Clearly, this strategy has not been adequate even for generating enough food supply to meet current food demands. In the immediate future this strategy of land ex- . pansion is likely to come under severe pressure,

38. Although -the land resource-pbtBirtial -seems to b"3 large," th^e'-exploitation of these reserves requires large investment of infrastructural development and

eradication of human and animal diseases*, Given the present level of technology, it is also correct to assuma that the reserve lands are of lower quality and the cost of developing them would be relatively higher than land now under use.

Furthermore, land degradation in most African countries is high and the share of

cultivated land exposed to major degradation hazards (erosion, salinity,

desertification) is increasing at a frightening rate with deserxification as a major cause of degradation. The need to arrest land degradation and

indiscriminate land exposure and to check erosion, larking- and all forms of land misuse cannot be over stressed. Simultaneously it must be emphasized that access to land for increased productive use must form the cornerstone of a progressive agricultural policy inall countries of Africa; '

D» Soil resources

39 The soils of tropical Africa^/ are not as fertile as is often thought*

In general, tropical soils have low natural fertility of fragile consistency and

difficult to operate and maintain when compared to temperate soils. An 3CA/FA0

publication puts the situation as follows:

"Broadly speaking, the great majority of African soils are chemically poor, and even very poor. Their u.rganic matter content and their exchange

capacity are very low, ♦••■> The nitrogen and phosphate contents are normally nut high, and, in the savannahs, the phosphate content is particularly low. The savannahs, the phosphate content is particularly

low. The savannah also lack sulphur, and the forests lack potassium and

magnesium"^/*

&/ FAO-UNESCO, Soil map of the World, vol> VI, Africa, UNESCO-Paris, 1977«

5/ United Nations, African agricultural development, s/CN. 14/342, New York

1966, p. 18

e/ECA/CM.8/20

Page 15

40. Large areas covered with dense i-aiii forests have a favourable climate but their soils, usaally of the ferralsols, aerisols and ferrah arenosols types, have a low natural fertility. After deforestation they are extremely susceptible to degradation through leading erosion, disappearance of organic matter and

accelerated deminishing fertility.

41 Soils (such as yermosols, yerosols, regosols, vertisols and fluvisols) found in the dry regions of Africa are said to be chemically rich but nitrogen is a limiting factor,, Extensive areas with poor drainage occur in the Niger and the Congo basins and in the southern region of the Sudan, and often in many valleys in the humid and tropical zones* They can be used for rice cultivation and pasture but are difficult to manage for other crops.

42. Savannahs or dry forest found in regions between high forest and semidesert zones seem to be more suitable for arable farms because of their soils, such as chromic and ferric luvisols, vertisols (black cotton soils), planosols and arenosols, which have a richer chemical composition and receive sufficient rainfall. However, the morphology of luvisols and the heavy precipitation in these zones facilitate rapid erosion which must be kept under control.

Vertisols are poorly drained, and the arenosols of Senegal, the Niger and Chad often lack nutrient elements and water absorbing- capacity and occur with iron

pans.

43. Highlands such as those.in Ethiopia.and Lesotho often have a basement of volcanic rock, d*id if not eroded have ..fairly favourable humus soils as found with andosols, ferralsols and natosols,

44- The mediterranean climatic types of northern and southern Africa have rich soils (luvisols, chromic cambisols, calcaric and eutric cambisols and lcastanozems) and are generally more suitable for cultivation. But erosion

can be severe and often produced lithosols.

45* Reflecting on the soil situation in Africa, three major areas of activities call for urgent development action, namely: (a) the need at the national

level for a comprehensive soil map survey and crop pattern; (b) research into soil fertility levels and supplementary fertiliser needs (artificial and natural fertilizers); (c) policy incentives for appropriate and optimum crop-livestock

combinations in the different parts of the African region.

s/ECA/CM.8/20

Page 16

IV. HATER AND IRRIOATION

■ ■■ A* INTRODUCTION

A6 The importance of water resources development is essential for the over-all economic and social development of all nations, in sustaining life itself, in contributing to the increase of food and fibre supplies, in improving health and the environment and in turning out other resources

needed by man,

47 The uneven distribution of water resources in the various parts of the continent presents a major difficulty and therefore requires concerted action leading to a plan for the optimum utilization of water resources under a well

considered policy and programme,

.8- The Lagos Plan of Action provides guide-lines for water resources develop- ment in specific area, of high priority such as: establishment of ^j^

water.committees; formulation of national water plans xn the area of water supply and agricultural water use; in the identification, P**

a*d implementation of water supply and irrigation pro3ects as well as the

^tabfishment of subregional river/lake basin organisations for the integrated

and rational development of common resources.

B.

, their development in hifih priority.

and action recommendation

49- The limited surface v-atar resources of Africa are far from evenly distributed in the different parts of the continent. Hearty 5° per cent of

the total surface water resources of the continent is in one river .asm, namely, the Congo basin; while 75 par cent of the total water resources is concentrated in ei^ht major river basins, namely the Congo, the Niger, th.

Ooone (Gabon), the Zambesi, the Nile, the Sanga (the United Repuolic of

Cameroon), the Chari-lon^e (Laice Chad basing and the Volta. Conprehensxve

development of these basins is therefore of paramount importance if Africa is to exploit its water resource potential fully.

W The relative scarcity of water and its highly uneven distribution over the

vLou! parts of the continent and at different periods of the *«««£«£

three major constraints of the water resources in Africa. The

of Hater in the equatorial zone of Africa in the Congo and the other

talne contrasts with a total lack of water in the Sahara and the Kalaharto

the south, with va^ing degrees of sufficiency or insufficiency m the xntervsnxng

E/sca/cM.8/20

Page 17

areas. The savannah "belt, lying "between the humid equatorial belt and the deserts of the north and the south'is also most vulnerable to periodic severe drought.

51 It is necessary at any stage in a country's development to take an inventory of available and potential water resources, water uses, excess of water and any deficiencies through time and space* Acquisition of such basic data in the first instance would facilitate sound planning for the integrated and rational development of rater resources in various sectors. Secondly, available Hater resources need to be closely.related to soil potential for efficient land use,

and thirdly a comprehensive arable land potential (both rainfed and irrigated)

map for optimum agricultural productivity is necessary*

C# Institutional arrangements

52> At the national level. The creation or strengthening of national institu tions to co-ordinate all water-related activities is a prerequisite and efforts are being made in this regard by about one third of the African countries

according to recent information-., The information reveals that some countries have established committees, commissions and councils with responsibilities defined ..by a decree or, constitution,

53- Similar action should be undertaken by countries which have not as yet done so. Such steps at the national level would facilitate and promote joint action in the integrated development of shared water resources,

54- At the subreglonal level. Only about five of the 54 international river and lake basins in Africa have some form of an organisation responsible for

multi-purpose development such as agricultural water use, hydropower, floodcontrol, navigation, recreation, coin-Dating dosertificevkion and environmental control, fishe- riss and municipal and industrial vater supplies,- In order to have sound and in*

tegrated development leading towards rational .utilisation of common resources, including inter-basra transfer of 3.T0&S vater, it is nocassary that mamber States should imr.iodiat sly start negotiating amon^ thorns Dives to establish the requisite legal

institutions.

55 Master plans in the sector of water supply and agricultural water use.

An important strategy to provide a perspective oh future development approaches is based on the formulation of national master plans and river basin plans to which a number of countries in the ragion have been attaching considerable

importance and keen interest,, Efforts being made by the countries need to be continued to ensure that they pass from the stage of general planning to the stage of detailed project planning' and implementation.

E/SCA/CM.8/20

Page 18

Tabled, Average annual water balance of Africa and the world's regions

Authors:

Year

fteaion

Africa

Europe Asia Australia North

America South

America Antarctica

Land area§/

Oceans Worl d

P 20.

6.

30.

7.

15.

28, 2, 111.

385

49^

Baumgartner

—~

>7

.6

7

1

6

0

4

0

.WZ5_

17.3 3«o I8.5

4-7 9.7 16,9

0.4

71

425 496

R

v 3.4

2.8 12.2

3.4

5.9 .

11.1 2,0 40 -40 0

USSR

22,3

e.3

31.2

7.1

■ 18.3 28-4

2,3 11?

458

577

Konograph 1974

17-7

5.3 18.1 4.6

, 10.1

16.2 0,0 72

577

R

4.

3.

14.

2.

8..

12.

2.

47 -47

0

—■—

6

0 1 6 2

2 3

P 20.

7-

32.

6.

13,

29.

Ill 113 412

525

Lvovich,^:

8

2

7 4

9

4.

197

S 16,

4-

19.

L

,6 ,1

.5

4 «4

7.

I?,

72

453

525

.9

.0 R

^

3 o2

.1 13.2

2

6

10

«•

41

-41 0

•0

.0

.4

-•

a/ Values are adjusted upwards to include Antarctica for comparison with

corresponding volumes derived by th.a othsr tuo authors,

b/ P ■- Precipitation

E - Evaporation R - Run-off

Soxirce: ECA, Problems of [later Resources Development in Africa, Regional report United Nations Water Conference, Africa Regional Meeting, Addis Ababa

20-24 September 1976 (^/cHbH/KRPA^/i/^^*2)* anne:: 1.

56., At the stage of planning in the preparation of master plans it is important that the sectoral plans should ba integrated to form part of national planning for economic and social developments For example the-targets for expansion of irrigated areas need to be integrated into an over-all agricultural strategy for increased production along tiith other inputs. Similarly the targets for

drinking water supply and sanitation should be closely linked and integrated with the plans for agricultural development and human settlement projects.

57- In the sector of uater supply and sanitation, surveys have revealed that many countries have not prepared their plans for the International Uater Supply

and Sanitation Decade which ware to be ready between 1977 and 1980 for

T"—r~—T — -f-ri'—-,-■■ J^hl[l ■"Tl -l-l.Ti -

E/ECA/cM.8/20

Page 19

implementation during 1981 and 1990, the Drinking Nater Decade. It has also been

noted that the sector has not received high priority by the majority of the

countries and therefore a substantial increase is required in national commit ments as uell as technical and capital co-operation to register the needed improvement. This is particularly important as the pace of development in the sector does not in many countries cover the rate of population growth. It is therefore necessary to males a radical roorientation in policies, plans and projects* In viex: of this the La^os Plan of Action calls for member States to

identify and prepare bankable vater supply projects uithout waiting for the formulation of national master plans0

D\ Irrigation potential

58. The uneven geographic ans seasonal distribution and the unreliability of

precipitation makes the development of the uater resources of Africa a pre requisite for the development of agriculture,, One of the main reasons for the instability and chronic food problems of Africa is the major dependence on rainfed agriculture uhich is subject to the vagaries of nature. Although the water resources of Africa as indicated above are relatively small and unevenly distributed within the region, ever, the little that is available is yet to be used on a significant scale to increase agricultural productivity,

59* At present irrigated agriculture is insignificant. It is estimated that

in I98O only 6*7 million hectares (5.8 per cent of cultivated land)jy were under

irrigation compared to the estimated potential irrigable land of 115 million hectares. Irrigation plays a significant role however in Egypt, the Sudan, Morocco, Madagascar and Algeria. Irrigation is also relatively important in the economies of Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Somalia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Tunisia and Sierra LeoneB The increase in irrigated area during the last decade is of the order of one million hectares and the target for 1990 is an

additional 3 million hectares JJ

60, The aggregate demand for food in developing- Africa is projected to grow at

an average rate of 3«5 P3*1 cent, while the supply on the basis of moderate assumptions is projected to grovi at an average rate of a mere 2,5 per cent yearly which indicates an increasing food deficit to be covered by rising food imports.

§/ According to the IJorld Bank report Accelerated .Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (1981), formal schemes v;ith full water control irrigated area amounts to

only some 2.5 million hectares of uhich 65 per cent is in the Sudan and a further 15 per cent in Madagascar in Sub-Saharan Africa,

J/ ECA study on land and vrater resources survey for irrigation in Africa,

1980 ♦

E/ECA/CMa8/2O

Page 20 :;

61 • The ECA study on land and water resources survey in Africa shoved that

adequate attention is given to irrigation development "by some Governments with the help of bilateral and multilateral organizations. It was also noted that 15 countries in.Africa needed as a matter of priority assistance for the identification of irrigation projects. .

62. Table 5 shows the extent of irrigation and the potential for expansion in some African countries for uhich information is available. Although the reliability of the statistics 0:1 irritable area could not be ascertained, the table nevertheless demonstrates the existence of large areas suitable for irrigation in all the countries listed*

63* For the Third Development Decade, in "Agriculture-: Toward 2000", FAO had proposed a growth rate of 1.9 per cent per annum, a slightly lower figure than the estimated 2,0 per cent trend, The reason given for the deceleration

of irrigation development was to give more attention to repair, (in many African

countries because of a relapse in maintenance of irrigation facilities a major

rehabilitation programme has become essential), modernization and completion of

existing schemes; to allow for expected resistance of farmers to many of the changes involved in reorganizing tertiary distribution systems and the .need

to consolidate fragmented holdings; and lack of trained manpower for the planning, execution and management of irrigation schemes.

64- Because of the high cost of irrigation development the crops to be planted

have to be high yielding and of high market value. Food crops generally do not normally pay under irrigation farming and for a successful irrigation project adquate and timely.provision of all complementary inputs and incentives to

participants is a must. Thus the institutions for this purpose need strengthening.

Where,food crops such as wheat, rice, legumes and vegetables are being irrigated

vertical integration (production, processing, packaging and marketing)

processes have proved more effective and profitable,

65- It is suggested that countries at an early stage of irrigation development should start uith pilot schemes which could provide the required experience and skills in the construction and management of irrigation. Part of the success of the Geazira irrigation scheme in the Sudan is attributed to the careful prior research and pilot schemes carried out.

66, I'Jith the development of irrigation facilities adopted agricultural production and improved production techniques can be intensified. This however is greatly influenced by the land ownership and tenure structures„ Land ownership and tenure structures that permit a more equitable distribution of income are needed.

Page 21

Table 5. Cultivated and irrigated areas

(in thousand hectares)

in some countries of Africa

Country _area

U

Cult ivable Irrigable

area hJ area 2/

^Irrigated'

1/

Benin Botswana 3gypt Ethiopia Ghana

Ivory Coast Kenya,

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Malawi Mali Nigeria Sierra Leone Sudan

Swaziland Uganda

United Republic of Tanzania Upper Volt a Zimbabwe

11 262

53 537

100 145 110 100 23 002

.31 800 56 925 175 954

9 408 122 000

93 300 7 174 237 600

1 720

19

575

1 360 2 838 13 730 2 720 3 800 2 270

365 94 509

27 380 89 058

564

290 050 23 990 566

7 515

154 5 610 5 140

5 633

1 631

42.9 35

5 000 1 818 1 200

47.6 200

260 112,6 1 101 15 000

28.4

4 090 57 92,8

536 152 148.4

19

2

850 55

22 26 46

140 10 100

25

6 700 30 5

62 5 60

Percentage irrigated ■ of irrigable

44.3

5.7

57.0 3.0 1.8 54-6 23,0

53.8

8.9 9.1

0.2 21*1 41.6 52*6 5.4 11.6 3.3

40.4

Source: l/ FAO Production Year Book,

2/ BOA, Problems of uater resources development in Africa, Regional

report, United Nations Water Conference, Africa Regional Meeting.

Addis Ababa 20-24 September 1976 (E/CNU4/NRI)Am/l/Rev.2).

67. One of the great dangers in irrigated farming' is the concentration of

salts that results from poor drainage systems. Large areas of land have been

ruined m India and Pakistan by salinity problems. This could be avoided

only by proper planning and management of irrigation projects. Ad hoc

irrigation efforts could endanger future irrigation development.

e/ECA/cM.8/20

Page 22

In order to attain the objectives for food self-sufficiency and self- reliance, member States which have irrigation potentials should make concerted

efforts in the identification, preparation and implementation of irrigation

projects as called for in the Lagos Plan of Action.

68, It is seen from the foregoing that, while soma efforts have "been undertaken

to'harvest the development of the bountiful land and water resources in Africa,

the pace of development so far made is not adequate. This is attributed to various'constraints, the majority of which could be resolved by the Governments

themselves*

69, The attainment of the objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action requires a series of measures especially with respect to legislation and administrative regulations, the planning and management of resources, the choice of develop ment prioritios, mobilization of public and private funds as well as co-operation and co-ordination with other Governments and international organizations.

V. LIVESTOCK, FISHERY AND FORESTRY

A. Livestock resources

70, In Africa, livestock are kept for multiple purposes: as a source of

high quality protein food, clothing, the provision of draught power, on-and-off- farm transport, manure for soil fertility maintenance and for fuel, store of

value (security), capital investment and enhanced social status. In the drier and savannah regions where pastoralism prevails, livestock raising is the basis of

the social and economic life of the people.

71, The livestock populationin Africa (excluding- South Africa) in 198O numbers about 154 million cattle,- 12 million camels, 123 million sheep and 147 million goats. There are also a large number of horses, mules and donkeys. There is about one animal per individual (see table 5).

72* Livestock densities (in cattle units)-7 per inhabitant range from 0.03 in 8/

Burundi to 5.3 in Somalia. The highest livestock densities are found in Somalia (5*3), Namibia (4.2) Botswana (3.9) and Mauritania (2.4) and the lowest in

Burundi (0.03), Sao Tome and Principe (0.05), Gabon (0.06), Liberia (0.06), Zaire (0.06), Mauritius (0.07), Sgypt (0.07) and Cape Verde (0.07). The average for

the continent is 0.52«

73. Livestock productivity in Africa is extremely law. Beef and veal produc tion per animal per annum ranges from 7 to 183 kg, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea and

8/ Cattle units = 1.0 cattle, 6 sheep and goat and 0.5 camel.

b/eCA/cM.8/20

Page 23

Mali produce less than-10 kg par animal* The highest-producers are the Ivory

Coast and Egypt (61 kg), Liberia (100 kg), the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (183 kg), Reunion (45 kg), the Congo (28 kg), Mozambique (26 kg), Tunisia (28 kg) and

Zimbabwe (25 kg). ■ Africa (excluding South Africa)-averages 14#>8 leg/animal. ■■ ■ Per capLit_a productivity of beef and veal range from 1 kg/person in Mauritius

to 58«5 itt Botswana. The average for Africa is 6O2 kg per inhabitant, which compares

unfavourably with 37.3 kg per inhabitant for the World (see table 6).

74• I"fc ^s been estimated that 50 to 200 head of African cattle are required to produce 1 ton of meat whereas semi-intensive grassland production systems

in Australia and Argentina produce 1 ton of meat from only 20 head $JC While

Africa has one eighth of the world cattle population it produces only one- twentieth of the worlds' meat production. Annual offtakes average less than 10 per cent, and mortalities in young animals claim up to 50 Pe^ cent. African herds produce less than 20 per cent of the milk they could produce.if-management and technical innovations which are already practiced elsewhere in the world . .

were applied 10/. - -

Table 6. Livestock population in Africa by subregion, (1980) . ■. - (in millions)

Subresion

North Africa Uest Africa Central Africa Eastern Africa

Great Lakes Community Total

Source: FAO, Production

Cattle

26.6 32.0

8.3 84.8

154.4

Year Book, 1980..

Camels

3.3

1.7

0.4

7.1

12*5

Goats

25.6

49-5

5.6 37-7 4-3

122.7

- Sheep

59.1

35.2 4.7

46.4 ■

1.3

146.7

9j ILCA, The First Years, Addis Ababa, Sthiopia, 1980, p. 7.

io/ .Ibid, . ; ...

s/bCA/CM.8/20

Page 24

Tablei 7« Comparative lives topic productivity fpjr.. Afrioa_and selected other Countries^ I98O

Country Beef and veal production Milk production

^ ; ■ kfc p.er head of cattle ■ kft-/country

Africa 14.8 491

United States - 90*0 5 386

Argentina «■*' 52.2 1 982

Netherlands ' ■8I.5 5 019

EEC 70.2 3 480

Japan : " 68.4 4 366

Norld 37-3 : "1 927

Source; PAO Production Year Book, 198O.

75- Average milk production for Africa is 491 kg/cow/annum# The lowest milk yields.expressed in kg/cow/annum are obtained in the Ivory Coast (84), Liberia and Togo (lOO)', the Central African Republic (110),'.. Benin (120), Mozambique and Sao Tome (170), the Upper Volta (182) and Mali (l99)» The highest producers also expressed in' kg/cow/annum are Egypt (704), Zaire (838), Algeria (978),

Zimbabwe (2 053) and Mauritius (2 300),. Most African countries range between 200 and 400.

76. These are several factors explaining the deplorable level of livestock productivity in Africa. A feu of the major ones needing urgent attention

include the following: . ... . . . .

. (a) -Poor- inherent, genetic, factors.;— .._... . .

(b) Lack of an adequate research and systematic breeding programme;

(cj Unscientific management and feeding practices; - (d) Overgrazing, overstocking, -and poor pastures;

(e) Lack of control of trypanosomiasis and other endemic, epizootic and

epidemic livestock diseases; control of trypanosomiasis alone according- to PAO

would release some 10 million 1cm2 of land for livestock raising. This zone has

e/HCa/cM.8/20

Page 25

an additional carrying capacity of 120 million head of cattle producing SUS 5 billion worth of meat annually;

(f) Inconsistent agricultural policy and a pathetic agricultural industry;

(gj Lack of co—operation at the subregional and regional levels for the

control of population, livestock movement, health and sanitation.

77, The livestock situation in Africa is a very disturbing one, but still more disturbing and rather perplexing is that the situation is likely to get worse as a result of the apparent indifference of many African Governments to their livestock and their livestock husbandry men* This unwholesome attitude cannot be dissociated from the general malaise of the agricultural industry as a whole on the continent. A sustained thriving livestock industry in any country, sub- region, or region is only feasible, along with other things, under conditions of'surplus supply""of"'grains';*' DT"iffrioal''"grain''heyppeSS" To'be" the largest food import item and, in spite of efforts to generate the awareness of African Governments to the problem of food supply, very little is being achieved.

This paradoxical situation is unfortunately being perpetuated: poor domestic food supply, increasing food imports, deplorable livestock industry and a frustrating agricultural industry*

B. Fisheries potential

78» Although accurate statistical information on the fisheries stock of African waters is not readily available it is felt that present levels of exploitation

are far below, the potential* A study for 3C0WAS indicated "that in 1974 fish

production from both marine and inland sources of 3CCMAS countries was only a third of the potential harvestable fisheries resources of the subregion. As

high as 2 million tons are additionally caught within the .SEZ^J/ by foreign- based vessels operating in the subregion. These catches'"are never landed at

the coastal ports of 3C0UAS member States prior to shipment.

79> Aquatic organisms production and consumption for Africa is given in table 8 which also indicates that rates of increase in the production is estimated to decline and total demand is expected to exceed production by 2000.

13/ SSZ - Exclusive Sconomic Zone.

a.e/ao

Page 26

Table 8« Aquatic organisms, - Actual and estimated production and consumption

Production Rate of increas e

Total -a/

consumption and projected

demand

Pood kg/per capita' Year (million tons) (percent of year) (million tons) actual and projected

1961/65 1972/74 1974/76

1980 1990 . 2000,.

2000

3.8

4.1 5-1

6.0

1.5

2.2 1.8 1.8

2.7 3.4

5.0 7.3

8.2

8.7

9.8 10.8

a/ Excluding demand for meal.

b/ 6.1 is percentage change from 1961/65 - 1974/76.

Source; FAO, Agriculture: Toward 2000, July 1979» PP» H7 and 119,

C. Forestry resources

80. As indicated in table 9 closed forests in tropical Africa were estimated at

173.95 million hectares^/ (27»4 per cent of total forest area). Of this 77 per

cent is found in Central Africa (about 50 per cent in Zaire alone). The forests of Central Africa are less threatned by deforestation (only 0.2 per cent per annum) compared to forests of West Africa which are deforested at an annual rate of about 4 per Sent l$/o An FA0-UN2P forest resource assessment estimated annual deforestation at l.j million hectares (0.6 per cent). Plantation success fully established every year are estimated at only 2.5 per cent of the area of

tree formations cleared annually.

81. The unabated forest resource depletion affects not only the production of forest products but seriously endangers the lives of people living particularly in the ecologically marginal areas. Desertification is caused to a large extent no doubt by deforestation activities, and by national policies that reflect

an attitude of indifference to Africa's forest heritage.

12/ A recent assessment by FAO and UH3P puts this figure at 216 million

hectares.

lj/ FACMHSP, Forest resources of tropicaljlfrica, part 1: Regional

synthesis, Rome I98I.

syiA^JL* Forest resources of Afrir- -»Q7p 7-- f -n •

—-—■■*--^**«*—-Js.»^5g,.^^iVJa£ai^*zikr'ij(millionhectares Closed Forestsforests asaper—as-„»_

Tot-1 ,«tpl -p Forest million m3 j • forest trtSU? oici S^.r {^i ff "* —-dpro^^tion (1974_76) i Subregion area l/ area 2/ forests „« ■ I -".iorest Pe* capita Han-made Fuel wood Industrial™ "~ 1

-™.:.~*-yioresxsarea-types..reserves(ha)3/forestsxr^-™^i*! -:—.=—,__^—_—|—^—^—-—~—«^«™^_______■"xoresxs+cnr,rcoalRoundwoodTotal

North Africa 101 *M t? /a '■' o^ ^o „ *" "

9.2937.86-^.

Central Africa 286ol6 A3.72 - ■ 1^ / /< ^9 TTTTT

«.—■J"1-LJ3«440,62115.86

^r^r-^ssr- —

22.71

a._ ^O-SO 22.71 11.57 7.70 79.40" 24.41 23.32 0 ."T": " ! Zj ■ ; -——_.!____ 12^.938 IO.O45 132.983 ! ^_ 633°37 22-35 W.95 27.38 3i2e9 4^2 "7^7 7T~T~ i 34.354 342.892 j a/ ^xcludinj South Africa. ■ ' j Source: l/ :Total forest area for 1973 from FAO Forest Production Yarbook l979o 2/ Lsind area from FAO Production Yarbooks. 3/ Population figures for 1975 from FAO Production Yearbook 1979, ^d . Persson, Reidar, Forest resources of Africa, Part I: Country descriptions, Stocidiolm, 1975.

Ob• CDCO O